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Sources for History dissertations
Presented by Laura Jeffrey & Richard Pears June 2006
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Learning outcomes
After this session you will be able to
•identify the range of secondary and published sources available
•select the most appropriate sources for your dissertation subject
•search efficiently using catalogues and bibliographical databases
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What information do you need?
• Define research area: People, period, place
• Focus: i.e. politics, society, religion, economics, etc
• Information: facts, theories, historiography, data, images, artefacts, etc.
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Break down the subject into searchable areas
Sample question:
What was Ronald Reagan’s role in the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe?
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Where will you find information?
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Some sources of information
Books Internet pages
Journals Statistics
Databases Newspapers
Theses Government publications
Manuscripts Contacts: staff, organisations
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Start here! http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/history/
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How to find information: Books
Use the Library Catalogue: http://library.dur.ac.uk/
• All material held in Durham University Libraries
• Author, title, keyword, subject searching
• Reserve, recall, renew items in Library
• Obtain items from store
• Export citations for your bibliography
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Using the Library catalogue
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Locating other sources
• Use the references and bibliographies cited in other books
• Look for other works by cited authors
• Look at primary resources cited, e.g. material in archives
• Look for published collections, e.g. Surtees Society, Camden Miscellany, Calendar of State Papers
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Beyond Durham University Library – COPAC http://copac.ac.uk/
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Archives
•Durham University Archives & Special Collections
•Other university and public archives
•Online search tools, e.g. National Archives http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
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Using bibliographic databases
• Search engines indexing thousands of journals, theses, working papers
• Often include book reviews
• Sometimes link to full text
• Download references to relevant sources, then search for these in the Library catalogue
• See list at http://aesica.dur.ac.uk/delores/databases/databasessubject.asp?subject=History
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Using Historical Abstracts
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Using journal databases - JSTOR
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Online exercise
In groups, discuss your dissertation subject and use the PCs to investigate the sources you might use.
You will have about 5 minutes per person.
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Recap
What sources will you need for your dissertation?
How will you find this information?
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Getting help
Library web pages: http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/history/
Contact us: [email protected]
Speak to your supervisor
Good luck!
